Parshat Noach contains the story of the ultimate demoralization of mankind; whereas the world was created pristine and fresh, and hardly ten generations separated the first man [Adam] from Noach, the utter immorality and decrepit nature of existence required the world to begin anew from the righteous Noach.
Chid”a writes in his Sefer Chomat Anach that the Midrash details that there were other righteous individuals alive at the time. What separated Noach was the fact that he was willing to speak up about the indignities and rotten behavior he noticed-the other righteous individuals, while able to maintain a certain standard of purity, were not able, or did not want, to reach out and correct others. Hence, in the year 1656 from creation [according to the Jewish calendar], Noach was selected to be the new human from which civilization would stem from. Of course, not even 800 years later, in the year 2448, humanity would face another choice when Hashem would offer them the Torah, which would grant purpose to creation-again, only a select few would take up the charge, and the Jewish nation was born, carrying the torch and burden of morality for all of existence. As the time for Moshiach’s arrival swiftly approaches, one can’t help but notice the utter insanity that surrounds philosophy and what is considered educated thought in today’s world. Professors claim that a brutal and animalistic society that promotes and thrives on terror is just and pure, while a nation that clings to the beauty and sanctity of life, and will give anything to save its people, is immoral and colonizing. The hypocrisy knows no bounds, and we, as members of the Jewish faith, must follow Noach’s example and cling to our traditions and Mesorah proudly, doing our best to try and educate a world that is convoluted and corrupt, while knowing, as Noach must have, that any efforts in this regard are virtually useless. As a nation that remembers and studies its own history, as well as the history of the world, the parallels between today’s climate and the times of Noach are striking; based on the reaction of all of Am Yisrael to the return of the 20 hostages, we can proudly proclaim to Hashem that we have built a Teivah [ark] around ourselves that should serve to carry us forward into the era of Moshiach.
Chida adds, that the Possuk states [Bereishit 9’ 6’]:
“...These are the progeny of Noach. Noach was a righteous man, flawless in his generations; Noach walked with G-d…”
The idea of “walking with G-d” on its face is certainly a highly mystical idea; see Rashi for his fascinating approach. Chida, however, offers, that on its literal level, the Possuk is saying that Noach sought to fulfill the dictum of the Rama, as stated in Shulchan Aruch [Orach Chayim 1’ 1’]:
“... "I have placed the Lord before me always." This is an important rule in the Torah and among the virtues of the righteous who walk before God…”
Hence, the Torah is communicating that Noach focused on Hashem wherever he came and went-this is the literal meaning of “walking with G-d”, as the Possuk states “Sheviti Hashem LiNegdi Tamid”--I always place Hashem before me. In unison, the hostages who returned have all declared their increased faith in Hashem-in a turbulent and anti-Jewish world, let us continue to absorb this lesson and realize that Hashem guides us in every way.
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.